Weekly News — August 26, 2026

Contents

News

• Quick Glance At The Calendar
• Summer Office Hours & Return to Regular Hours
• Single Worship Service - September 6
• Grounds Clean-Up Thank You - NEW
• Join the Sunday School Teaching Team
• Coffee Ministry - Volunteers Needed
• Clothing Closet Donations Needed
• Backpack Tags & Root Beer Floats
• Church Picnic
• Youth Group Kick-Off Party
• Youth Bible Study
• Youth Beach Retreat
• First Pres Travelers Fall Events - NEW

Prayers

Quick Glance At The Calendar - Aug/Sept

8/30: Backpack Tags & Root Beer Floats

9/6: Single Worship Service at 10am

9/7: Church Offices Closed - Labor Day

9/8: Church Office Returns To Regular Office Hours

9/13: Church Picnic & Youth Group Kick-Off Party/Bible Study

9/18-20: Youth Beach Retreat

Summer Office Hours & Return to Regular Hours

The church office is currently following our summer office hours and is open 9am-4pm on Monday-Thursday, and closed on Fridays. We will return to regular office hours after the Labor Day weekend.

Single Worship Service - Sunday, September 6

There will be a single worship service at 10:00am on Sunday, September 6. There will not be any children's programs, but the Nursery will be open. In addition, the church office will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. 

Grounds Clean-Up Thank You

A big thank you to Carmelo Ortiz and the members and visitors of First Pres who helped get the grounds of the church and our rental properties ready for the new program year. We will hold these clean-ups on a periodic basis, so please be on the lookout for future events if you are interested in participating.

Join the Sunday School Teaching Team

Are you looking to get to know more First Pres families? Do you enjoy being with kids? Do you want to learn or relearn some Bible stories? Are you looking for a small but important way to be part of the church? Then teaching Sunday School might be for you! We are looking for new Sunday School teachers this year who are willing to help lead elementary aged kids once or twice a month during the 9:00 worship service. Most of the preparation work is done for teachers in advance, allowing them to focus their time on being with the kids and learning about God together. If you are interested or want more information, contact our Director of Faith Formation, Sara Pantazes, by calling the church office or at spantazes@firstpreswc.com.

Coffee Ministry - Volunteers Needed!

We are looking for additional help with serving coffee on Sunday mornings. You would be paired up with someone who has done it before and we will provide the training! Please sign up online or see Elizabeth Hess or Caroline Cupp.

Clothing Closet Donations Needed

Looking for a place to donate? A heartfelt thank you to those who graciously donate gently used children's clothing to the Clothing Closet at First Pres. Those donations mean so much to those in need in our and surrounding communities. 

We would be so grateful if, when you are purging your children's closets before the school year begins, you would donate unwanted clothing items to our mission. We would appreciate sizes 4-16, boys and girls.  Cooler weather clothing is needed. A bin is provided in Fellowship Hall for your donations. Please note that we no longer accept shoes nor boots. 

Many thanks for your consideration from the Clothing Closet Committee

Backpack Tags & Root Beer Floats

Join us this Sunday, August 30 for a special morning! During both worship services we will share a back-to-school blessing with all our students, teachers, and school employees. Make sure to stay after 9 or come early to 10:45 because during coffee hour, we'll be serving root beer floats alongside our usual coffee and juice! A fun, old-fashioned treat to send off summer and start off the new school year with joy.

Church Picnic

Fall Kickoff is just around the corner on September 13. Come at noon for our annual picnic (in the "backyard" along the alley). We'll have fried chicken, a bounce house, golf putting and face painting! Sign up to bring a side dish on the website or below. Bring a friend!

Youth Group Kick-Off Party

On Sunday, September 13, from 4-6pm, First Pres will celebrate a new year of Youth Group with a Kickoff Party! We will have snacks, play video games, board games, live-action Among Us, and discuss our mission and core values for the year. Youth Group will be every Sunday from 4-5:30pm. 

Youth Bible Study

After our Youth Group Kick-Off Party, the following Wednesday we will have our All-Grades Bible Study, from 7-8:30pm. We will be working our way through the Gospel of John!

Youth Beach Retreat

From September 18-20, First Pres Youth will be going to Bethany Beach Retreat Center for a weekend retreat! We will use the calming beach atmosphere to have fun and learn devotional practices, which are spiritual disciplines that will last a lifetime. Registration and info are here: 

First Pres Travelers Fall Events

First Pres Travelers has been busy planning new Fall adventures. Please below see status of previously announced events:


1. The American Revolution program at the Chester County History Center is full.
2. The White Christmas musical is full.
3. Join the First Pres Travelers to see Joshua at the Sight & Sound Theater, Nov. 12th at 11 am. Show ticket price is $71.70 (fees included). Optional Smorgasbord Lunch at the adjacent Hershey Farm Restaurant.  Cost for the lunch is $30.95 (food, fees, and tip).


For additional information or to register, please contact Thom & Irene at:

psuthom@verizon.net

Thursday First Pres Prayers

This Month’s Prayer Request:

God of warmth and abundance, we give you thanks for your presence in this season. Bless our youth and educators as they begin preparations for a year of learning. Give your blessing upon those schools close by and throughout the world where there are not enough resources. We ask your blessing especially upon our mission partners in Pakistan with the Presbyterian Education Board. We pray for the safety of their students and teachers and for their families. We ask this in Christ’s name, our great teacher. Amen. 

Each week we pray for our congregation at 12:00pm on Thursdays.

Set an alarm or schedule it in your calendar to join us! You don’t need to only pray for the topic of the week, but you can continue to pray for previous topics as well or anything that God lays on your heart.

For those who would like to set up time to meet one-on-one with someone to navigate a time of transition or difficulty, Stephen Ministers are here to help.

Prayer Requests

If you would like to add a prayer (in joy or in time of need) to our Prayer Band, complete the website form, send an email, or call the church at the number below.

First Presbyterian Church | 130 W. Miner Street | 610-696-0554

GIVE | Visit firstpreswc.com

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